Ranking the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl opponents in the Patrick Mahomes era

Who is the best team the Chiefs have faced in the Patrick Mahomes era?

Super Bowl LV - Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl LV - Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Kansas City Chiefs | Simon M Bruty/GettyImages

What an amazing time to be a Kansas City Chiefs fan. The fact that we can even have a lengthy discussion about who the best teams the Chiefs have faced in their last five Super Bowl appearances still feels like a dream we are destined to wake up from.

The Chiefs are in a unique situation where they have faced two rematches (Eagles and 49ers) in their five appearances since Patrick Mahomes took over as starting quarterback in 2018. Obviously, there will be some holdovers from those teams with coaching and personnel from year to year.

Let's take a closer look at the teams the Chiefs have faced in the Super Bowl and rank them from worst to first in anticipation of another championship matchup in Super Bowl LIX.

5. 2019 San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl LIV)

San Fransciso 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs
San Fransciso 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs | Perry Knotts/GettyImages

Key Stats

NFL Ranking

Offensive Points

2nd

Offensive Yards

4th

Defensive Points Allowed

8th

Defensive Yards Allowed

2nd

Total DVOA

3rd

All-Pro Players

George Kittle

This version of the 49ers felt like a buzzsaw at the time, especially when you look at how many outstanding young players were on that defense: Rookie Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, a younger Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and Richard Sherman still playing at a high level. Kyle Shanahan was really coming into his own, too, as a playcaller. The 49ers were getting so much out of their run game with Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman. George Kittle was in his prime years and rookie Deebo Samuel was blossoming into the weapon he would become.

However, this team's biggest weakness was Jimmy Garoppollo at quarterback and the offensive line. Trent Williams wasn't yet a part of the team, and Garoppollo was good at taking what the scheme gave him but not much else. The stars of the 49ers team we've come to know were all young and coming into their own. This team was led by a strong defense, and a great offensive scheme and run game. Their pass game wasn't much beyond Kittle, Samuel, and veteran Emmanuel Sanders. In the end, their fatal flaws on offense couldn't keep up with the Chiefs.

4. 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Super Bowl LV)

Tom Brady - American Football Quarterback
Super Bowl LV - Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Kansas City Chiefs | Simon M Bruty/GettyImages

Key Stats

NFL Ranking

Offenisve Points

3rd

Offensive Yards

7th

Defensive Points Allowed

8th

Defensive Yards Allowed

6th

Total DVOA

4th

All-Pro Players

None

While it may seem surprising to see the one team that beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl (thus far) ranked at No. 4, the context matters. The Buccaneers fell to 7-5 after losing to the Chiefs in late November. They had to go on the road for the entirety of the postseason except for their ironic home Super Bowl. The team that ended the season was very good, especially with the addition of Antonio Brown as their third or fourth passing option and the emergence of Leonard Fournette as a running back.

The thing that helped this team achieve the Lombardi trophy was ultimately Tom Brady and a great defense. They were able to do just enough on offense with three very good receivers (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Brown), Rob Gronkowski at tight end, and a strong run game. They also had a very good offensive line that could keep an aging Brady clean and upright.

The pass rush was fierce, the linebacking corps was excellent with prime Lavonte David, and the defensive scheme helped them take advantage of the Chiefs' offensive line woes. It's worth noting this team never even made it back to the conference championship game whereas the other teams eventually returned to the Super Bowl.

3. 2024 Philadelphia Eagles (Super Bowl LIX)

Saquon Barkley
NFC Championship Game: Washington Commanders v Philadelphia Eagles | Emilee Chinn/GettyImages

Key Stats

NFL Ranking

Offenisve Points

7th

Offensive Yards

8th

Defensive Points Allowed

2nd

Defensive Yards Allowed

1st

Total DVOA

5th

All-Pro Players

Saquon Barkley, Zack Baun

In some aspects, it feels like the upcoming matchup against the Eagles could be the toughest opponent yet for the Chiefs. However, taking a closer look at the roster, they are not as diverse as they were in 2022.

The Eagles are dominant when running the ball but the offensive line isn't what it was in 2022 without Jason Kelce or Isaac Seumalo. Jalen Hurts hasn't had as good of a season as a passer or as a rusher. The defense, especially the coverage units and the linebacking corps, is much improved since 2022. However, the pass rush isn't as dominant. Despite much of the chatter around the Eagles pass rush this week they rank about the same as the Chiefs do in sacks and well behind in pressures.

The coaching of Vic Fangio and Kellen Moore has made an obvious impact on this roster—something that the Eagles struggled with in 2023. While they feel like an unstoppable machine right now with Barkley as a runner and having Dallas Goedert, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith in the passing game, we've not really seen the Eagles chase points this year.

For the most part game script has allowed the Eagles to run the ball and play defense. Hurts is not turning the ball over and is playing clean smart football, but can he throw to win or get back in the game? That remains to be seen.

2022 Philadelphia Eagles (Super Bowl LVII)

Patrick Mahomes, Jordan Davis
Super Bowl LVII - Kansas City Chiefs v Philadelphia Eagles | Christian Petersen/GettyImages

Key Stats

NFL Ranking

Offenisve Points

2nd

Offensive Yards

2nd

Defensive Points Allowed

8th

Defensive Yards Allowed

3rd

Total DVOA

2nd

All-Pro Players

Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce

This Eagles team burst onto the scene in '22 with a breakout year for Jalen Hurts the addition of A.J. Brown. They also had two coordinators (Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon) who would go on to become head coaches.

The Eagles' core was led by a group of veterans that upset Tom Brady and the Patriots. Names like Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Lane Johnson brought a strong leadership element to a younger team. The emergence of the "brotherly shove" also made the Eagles unstoppable and increasingly aggressive on fourth down.

The Eagles' defense received lots of praise headed into the Super Bowl largely because of a dominant pass rush with 70 sacks. Looking back at that defense, the linebackers were vulnerable and the secondary was as well by relying on some aging veterans who weren't really battle-tested against elite offenses.

That being said, the Eagles were a better punt or a missed holding call away from beating the Chiefs.

1. 2023 San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl LVIII)

Nick Bosa, Patrick Mahomes
Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs | Ethan Miller/GettyImages

Key Stats

NFL Ranking

Offenisve Points

3rd

Offensive Yards

2nd

Defensive Points Allowed

3rd

Defensive Yards Allowed

8th

Total DVOA

2nd

All-Pro Players

Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Fred Warner, Trent Williams

The peak of the 49ers' powers. Quarterback Brock Purdy ran the Shanahan system better than any quarterback than maybe 2016 MVP Matt Ryan did in 2023. Christian McCaffrey had a Saquon Barkley-like season, Bradon Aiyuk emerged as a top receiver in the game, and Deebo Samuel was still the best version of himself alongside George Kittle. The offensive line added Trent Williams at left tackle. Nick Bosa and Chase Young came off the edges with Javon Hargrave rushing from the interior. Still led by Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw at linebacker, this team was a monster.

While some of the other teams might have had slightly better metrics, this team felt like it had the fewest weaknesses. They were good everywhere and brought lots of experience into the big game based on their previous appearance. This felt like the best overall team the Chiefs have faced and it took an overtime session to win.

Schedule